FRANCE STANDS UP TO KHAMENEI

France rejected accusations by Iran's supreme leader of meddling in the country's disputed election, but insisted on the people's right to" transparency and truth" over the result.

"We do not want to take the place of the Iranian people. But we support the Iranians' desire for and their right to transparency and truth," Foreign Ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier told reporters."There are appeals and contestation and demands for transparency, coming from Iranian officials and a wide section of Iranian society.

"We are not choosing one camp or the other. It is important for Iran that the demand for transparency is answered," he said.